Choice of "back-up" knife for deployed soldier

S

SuperGlued

Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
11
Hey all,

I'm trying to decide what knife to buy a buddy of mine who is deploying to Afghanistan in a few months.

His job will be to repatriate "former" bad-guys back to the towns and villages of origin. Sounds like a real shit job and dangerous as hell.

I want to get him a concealable back-up/last resort knife. I am split between something like the Izula II (which seems to be a bit more all around) or a push-dagger. While the Izula seems more practical the push-dagger could prove to be a true last resort life saver, as it pretty much as one purpose and one purpose only.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
 
Your friend is gonna be in a combat zone. The knife doesn't need to be concealable. When my son went to Iraq the first time I bought him a KBAR 7in combat knife. He carried it for all three of his tours over there. I would think if the bad-guys see you buddy armed to the teeth with bada$$ guns and knives they would be less likely to F with him
 
Tracker16 said:
Your friend is gonna be in a combat zone. The knife doesn't need to be concealable. When my son went to Iraq the first time I bought him a KBAR 7in combat knife. He carried it for all three of his tours over there. I would think if the bad-guys see you buddy armed to the teeth with bada$$ guns and knives they would be less likely to F with him
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Hey Tracker16 - The reason I want one that is concealable is in the event he is overtaken and disarmed. A similar situation as to why a State-side cop might carry a concealed blade.
 
Tangos have learned to strip BDU's and turn them inside out while checking them. In the moments during and right after abduction he might have a slim chance ot go for soemthing. My money would be spent on something like the BRKT STS5.

Odds are if it has gone badly enough for a "deep concealement blade" he is already being watched under muzzle by several people.
 
Didn't you just ask this question?

If a neck knife is not going to be easy to deploy, what other "deep concealment" knife is going to be accessible? If he gets taken prisoner? I think you are "gaming" and not dealing with reality.

If your friend is an MP and will be repatriating former hostiles, he may be in the spotlight with higher-ups, native leaders and journalists. His authorized carry list may be more stringent than that of a regular grunt sitting on a mountain top.

You should find out from him what he can, or cannot carry. Otherwise, you may give him something that he'll have to leave behind.

add: Why don't you take a look at this list of gear for troops in Afghanistan for ideas of what may be helpful.
http://afghanlessons.blogspot.com/2009/04/chapter-1-gear.html
 
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Gotcha. check out the Cold Steel Spike video on there website. I have the Tanto version and it's a bad mutha. They come with a chain for wearing as a neck knife
 
If he were my buddy, I'd get him a concealable AND a non-concealable.

Here's hoping he doesn't need to use either one for anything more dangerous than opening a can.
 
CWL said:
Didn't you just ask this question?

If a neck knife is not going to be easy to deploy, what other "deep concealment" knife is going to be accessible? If he gets taken prisoner? I think you are "gaming" and not dealing with reality.

If your friend is an MP and will be repatriating former hostiles, he may be in the spotlight with higher-ups, native leaders and journalists. His authorized carry list may be more stringent than that of a regular grunt sitting on a mountain top.

You should find out from him what he can, or cannot carry. Otherwise, you may give him something that he'll have to leave behind.

add: Why don't you take a look at this list of gear for troops in Afghanistan for ideas of what may be helpful.
http://afghanlessons.blogspot.com/2009/04/chapter-1-gear.html
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Thanks for the list I'll take a look. *Edit* Just took a look. That's a hell of a list. Good to know.

Regarding my having just asked this question; My other post was regarding the "legality" of him carrying beyond what he is issued. However I felt a discussion on what blade in particular warranted a new post as it was somewhat off-topic from the other post title.

Regarding my "gaming"; I neither play with airsoft, nor computer games if that is what you are implying. I have on the other hand carried a blade of some sort for the last 20 years or so. I recognize how having a knife at hand (concealed or no) can be invaluable. While I have never served in the armed services I imagine how that little extra bit of insurance could come in handy in that environment as well.
 
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As far as legality is concerned just about all soldiers and sailors carry a knife. I did 20 years in the military and everyone carried some kind of knife. When my son went to Iraq I wanted to give him one of my 45's to wear for backup but the command wouldn't allow it. No problems with the KABAR though. Some of his coworkers went out and got one after they saw his
 
1 Thing about the middle east is that they are a knife coulture, and definately respect a blade. Moreso over any rifle slung over your shoulder! This is very true, ask any returning serviceman who carried a blade. The k-bar is a great choice! Scared many middle easterers....or at least got their respect!
 
christopherm903 said:
1 Thing about the middle east is that they are a knife coulture, and definately respect a blade. Moreso over any rifle slung over your shoulder! This is very true, ask any returning serviceman who carried a blade. The k-bar is a great choice! Scared many middle easterers....or at least got their respect!
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Actually, Afghanistan is in Central Asia and is not considered a part of the Middle East. Kinda explains why there are such huge misunderstandings between people when you don't even know where the other country is located.

The Afghan tribes have a gun culture 2X older than the United States has been in existence. Afghans have been shooting at invaders for the past 400+ years, and before that, they were shooting people with arrows.


Back to the OP, when I meant "gaming", I didn't mean video games, I meant that you were trying too hard to think beyond reasonable events. If you really want to get him something, maybe a slender boot knife. Personally, I think that a lot of what troops overseas miss are the small comfort things from home that they can't find on deployment.
 
I agree on the KABAR guys. I've used one as a camp knife for some time. I don't know if he has a full sized knife and will have to ask him. If I can swing it, perhaps a KABAR and a Cold Steel SafeMaker II.
 
CWL said:
I think that a lot of what troops overseas miss are the small comfort things from home that they can't find on deployment.
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There is a group of us sending him away with a bevy of goodies. Thank you for your concern however.
 
SuperGlued said:
I agree on the KABAR guys. I've used one as a camp knife for some time. I don't know if he has a full sized knife and will have to ask him. If I can swing it, perhaps a KABAR and a Cold Steel SafeMaker II.
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Glad you finally see the light :D
 
I rigged a COld Steel OSI in a leg rig, its nice because its light for what it is and it is function specific, not for anything but just in case scenarios. I love big, heavy knives for camping but soldiering ain't camping.
 
CWL said:
Actually, Afghanistan is in Central Asia and is not considered a part of the Middle East. Kinda explains why there are such huge misunderstandings between people when you don't even know where the other country is located.

The Afghan tribes have a gun culture 2X older than the United States has been in existence. Afghans have been shooting at invaders for the past 400+ years, and before that, they were shooting people with arrows.

That's your take, Here's mine...

Read and enjoy...
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Yes and no depending on who you ask...

Geographical it is in South Asia and Central Asia. The South Asian countries are India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka , Nepal , Maldives, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

Afghanistan also borders central Asian countries such as China, Tajikistan , Uzbekistan amongst others. Afghanistan does border Iran , which is in the Middle East.

Incidentally Afghanistan does not belong to any middle eastern organization, but is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ( India, Pakistan etc...)

Culturally, Afghanistan is closer to South Asia than the middle East. Its languages are Dari and Pashto which are related to north Indian and Urdu languages

In terms of religion, it does share Islam as the main religion with the Middle East. but that is a misnomer, because the majority of the worlds Muslims do not live in the middle east ( Indonesia, India, Nigeria). Historically, Afghanistan was Buddhist before conversion to Islam, and many Indian emperors can original from Afghanistan ( e.g Mughals)

however, politically , it may belong to the middle east , as many of its issues are similar to the middle east rather than South Asia.

The middle East has always been a very vague term, in which countries were added and removed depending on the context. For example Egypt is both in Africa and south west Asia. Turkey is the same to. so i found that when there is a positive thing to say about Egypt, it is in the middle east, but when there is something negative, it is in Africa. Similar to Turkey, it is sometimes classed in Europe and the middle east depending on the subject.

Afghanistan is the same. When the war on terror and the misery of its people are discussed ( they are middle eastern), but when its culture, beauty or ancient history is discussed it is in South Asia.

Back to the OP, when I meant "gaming", I didn't mean video games, I meant that you were trying too hard to think beyond reasonable events. If you really want to get him something, maybe a slender boot knife. Personally, I think that a lot of what troops overseas miss are the small comfort things from home that they can't find on deployment.
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Thank you for reading..
 
It looks like they wear gloves a lot over there so I'd make sure whatever you got him could be easily grabbed with gloves on.
 
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